Visiting Angels of Central Arkansas.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Visiting Angels of Central Arkansas

Owner: Mike Martin

Address: 1429 Merrill Drive, Suite 4, Little Rock

Phone: (501) 225-5100

Hours: By appointment

Startup: July 1, 2009

Web site: www.vistingangels.com/littlerock

After serving 20 years as an employee recruiter, Mike Martin decided it was time for a change.

A friend approached him with the opportunity to open an assisted living care service, which is how Martin found out about the Visiting Angels franchise.

"Visiting Angels as a corporate group has a true desire to serve," Martin said. "They have a passion and empathy for the folks they are serving. They have a sincere desire to serve them and maintain the dignity of the individual. They have a passion for what they do. That's a big selling point over other franchises."

Visiting Angels of Central Arkansas is an assisted living care service for both the elderly and the disabled over 18 years of age. The non-medical services provided include 24-hour care, assistance in hygiene, meal preparation, medication reminders, light housekeeping and errand running.

"There is a real need there," Martin said. "That elder segment of the population is growing. I have an experience with my own parents and making that transition where we have to start parenting our own parents. They have a desire to serve that segment of the community."

Martin said that unlike other assisted living providers, Visiting Angels of Central Arkansas allows the clients to choose who their caregiver will be.

"No one is just going to show up to their door," Martin said. "I will be going to the home first to do an assessment. I will come back in a day or two with the caregiver that I think meets the needs of the person, introduce them to that person and see if they fit. We want to make sure there is a good match and let the recipient have a say-so in the process."

Visiting Angels of Central Arkansas has 15 full-time and part-time caregivers on the staff. Martin said that these caregivers were carefully selected with an emphasis on experience.

"I want people with experience either in a hospital or a nursing home," he said. "Private or personal experience is a tough duty, but I need experience that I can verify and make sure they are dependable and reliable. I look for individuals that have a service heart and passion for the people that they care for."

Another benefit that Visiting Angels provides is a family care package that gives the clients discounts on hearing aids, batteries for hearing aids and other products for the elderly.

Print Get the Mag Weekly Updates